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New Toyota HiLux delayed indefinitely as dealers are overstocked

The Toyota HiLux – Australia’s top-selling car for the past four years in a row – is expected to be the subject of even sharper deals than usual in the next few months.


This comes as showrooms continue to clear runout stock to make way for an updated model (pictured above).

The runout Toyota HiLux SR5 double cab 4x4 is back to its previous low of $53,990 drive-away with auto. Some older 2019-built examples are being advertised by certain dealers online for even less than this.

Toyota has put the brakes on the updated and slightly more powerful version of the HiLux ute because local dealers still have too many of the current model to clear following April’s dramatic market slowdown.

 

Drive

Toyota dealers have told Drive they are selling down their inventories faster than expected in the past couple of weeks, as the industry shows signs of recovery as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are eased

However, with ample stock levels of the runout Toyota HiLux across the network, a few weeks ago dealers asked Toyota Australia to delay the introduction of the new model indefinitely because they weren’t sure how long it would take for the new-car market to recover.

 

Drive

At this stage, Toyota dealers estimate the updated Toyota HiLux could arrive in local showrooms in September or October, but a date has not yet been locked in.

It was previously due in local showrooms in the third week of July, Toyota dealers told Drive.

The updated Toyota HiLux s due to go into production in Thailand in the coming weeks, however official images and technical details are yet to be released.

The 2021 Toyota HiLux is expected to be a facelift of the current model, with a new nose but the same overall body and shape.

 

Drive

The 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine is expected to get a modest power bump and the infotainment system is expected to gain Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is unclear if the instrument cluster will finally gain a digital speed display, as per most rivals. 

Last month, leaked images appeared to show what the updated Toyota HiLux could look like, however it is still unclear if they were computer generated illustrations or the real deal.

Toyota is notoriously secretive about its new model plans, with images and details rarely revealed until just prior to launch. 

Because Toyota produces so many vehicles globally, unveiling a new model too soon could slow down sales of the runout vehicle.

Joshua Dowling

Joshua Dowling has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years, spending most of that time working for The Sydney Morning Herald (as motoring editor and one of the early members of the Drive team) and News Corp Australia. He joined CarAdvice / Drive in 2018, and has been a World Car of the Year judge for more than 10 years.

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